Chennai: Tension prevailed at Thiruparankundram in Madurai on Wednesday evening as right-wing activists clashed with police after the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department officials failed to light the Karthigai Deepam atop the hill near a dargah as per the directions of the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court.

Justice G R Swaminathan, had on Monday ordered that the Deepam be lit at Deepathoon atop the hill, changing the century-old practice of lighting the lamp at the Deepa Mandapam near Uchipillaiyar temple. But, the HR&CE officials lit the fire at the Uchipillaiyar temple at 6 pm as per the tradition.

As the petitioner, Rama Ravikumar, informed the court that the order has not been executed, Justice Swaminathan not merely pulled up the DMK dispensation for br

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